Edge trimming machine



Dec. 22, 1953 H. KELLER EDGE TRIMMING MACHINE Filed 001;. 19, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HHRRY -ELLER.

HTTORNEY 1 Dec. 22, 1953 H. KELLER EDGE TRIMMING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Mal Filed Oct. 19, 1951 INVENTOR.

HTTORIUEV Q was:

EDGE TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

HARRY KELLER- Dec. 22, 1953 H. KELLER EDGE TRIMMING MACHINE INVENTOR.

HBRRY KELLER W ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES E ATENTOFFICE.

2,663,352 EDGE TRIMMING MACHINE Harry Keller, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application October 19, 1951, Serial No. 252,030

10 Claims. (01. 154 41) This invention relates generally to machines foredging cardboard and similar sheet material and is more particularlyconcerned with improvements in the class of such machines which fold acontinuous tape of binding material about strips of cardboard placedtherealong and then sever thetape between the strips of cardboard, theaforementioned improvements affording particular advantage with regardto the spacing and severing operations.

Known machines of the aforementioned class are characterized byautomatic feeding of the binding tape, manual feeding of the boards to'be bound, and automatic cutoff between the if they are spaced eithertoo far apart or too close together, the automatic cut off is thrown outof proper timing.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a machine foredging cardboard with .means for automatically relatively spacing stripsof cardboard as they are fed into the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a machine with meansfor severing the binding tape between the strips of cardboard,

such means being automatically operative independently of thelength ofthe cardboardstrips and of any spacing therebetween in excess of aminimum predetermined spacing.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear morefully hereinafter, it being understood that the present inventionconsists in the combination, construction, location and relativearrangement of parts, all as will be more fully described hereinafter,as is shown in the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a machine embodying the presentinvention, looking toward the front from the left side thereof;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevationalong line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing an upper portion of the machine;

Figure 3 is a section along line 33 of Figure 4 looking 'in thedirection of the arrows, the cardboard strips being shown.

Figure 4, is a section along line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows, the cardboard strips being omitted for the sakeof clarity.

Figure 5 is a perspective View showing the out off mechanism, lookingtoward the rear and from the right side thereof; I

Figure 6 is a perspective view taken along line 56 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the machine of Figure 1, lookingtoward the front from the right side thereof;

Figure 3 is a section along line 88 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view through the cut off mechanism, looking fromthe right side thereof and showing the knife in its lowermost positionand the binding tape cut.

Figures 10 to 13, inclusive, are sectional views through the cut offmechanism, looking from the left side thereof and showing the associatedparts in varying'positions as the work is fed through the machine;

Figurelg is a plan view of the bindingtape folded about strips ofcardboard and ready to be severed;

Figurel5 is a section along line l5-l 5 ure 14;

Figure 16 is a section along line Iii-l6 of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a diagram showing the electric circuit controllingthe cutoff mechanism.

Figure 18 is similar to Figure 3 but shows th spacing element riding onthe upper surface of a cardboard strip being fed through the rollers andanother strip in position waiting to follow.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises an elongated open framestructure 20 hav- 33-33 to 3838 rigidly secured to frame structure 20,each of the rollers having an end portion overhanging the associatedbearing and fixedly mounting a chain sprocket as and a spur gear Al,

the latter being disposed intermediate the chain sprocket 39 and theassociated bearing. The several sprockets 39 are disposed for rotationin a common vertical longitudinal plane and have an endless chain 42trained thereover, excessive slack in the chain 42 being taken up by aplurality of idler sprockets 43 suitably mounted on frame structure 20.

The roller devices 2| and 23 to 26 also comprise respectively upperrollers 44 to 48 rotatably mounted in the associated bearings 33--33 and3535 to 38-38 and disposed thereby in parallel superimposed relation tothe associated lower rollers, each of the upper rollers being downwardlyspring pressed and having an end portion overhanging the associatedbearing and fixedly mounting a spur gear 49 disposed in meshingengagement with the associated gear M.

More particularly with regard to rollers 21 and 44, these two rollershave respectively similar opposed reduced portions I and 52 intermediatethe opposite ends thereof. Mounted on the reduced portion 52 is a collar53 having an external diameter equal to that of roller 44, and havingoppositely facing end surfaces disposed in abut-.- ting relation to theopposed sharp shoulders formed by reduced portion 52. The fit of collar53 on reduced portion 52 and between the sharply defined shouldersformed by the latter is such that due to frictional contact collar 53will rotate with roller 44 when no resistance is offered to suchrotation, but will not turn therewith when any substantial resistance isencountered. Integrally formed with collar .53 and projecting radiallyoutwardly therefrom is a spacing element 54 having opposed outwardlyconverging surfaces 56 and 57 and oppositely facing side sur- "faces 58and 59 set back from the sharply defined shoulders formed by reducedportions 5| and 52, the spacing element 54 being of such a length thatit clears reduced portion 5| when collar 53 rotates with roller 44.

Now more particularly with regard to rollers 30 and 46, roller 46comprises a central shaft BI mounting a pair of folding disks EL -62secured in a suitable manner to spaced portions thereof for rotationtherewith, and roller 30 comprises a central shaft 63 mounting a pair offolding disks 6464 on spaced portions thereof for rotation therewith,disks 64-64 being thereby disposed outwardly relative to disks 62-62,and being spring pressed for relative axial movement toward disks.62-62, opposed portions of disks 6262 and 64-64 being disposed in sideabutting relation to one another.

Andnow more particularly with regard to roller 32, this roller comprisesa central shaft 66 having an end portion overhanging the associatedbearing 38 and mounting a chain sprocket 39 and a spur gear 4| asalready described. In addition,

the opposite end portions of shaft 66 fixedly 1nount respectively achain sprocket 6'! and a handwheel 66, the former being disposedadjacent chain sprocket 39 and the latter being disposed in outeradjacent relation to bearing 36 on the left side of the machine.

Between the floor level and the upper work- .ing level of the framestructure 20 is an intermediate level mounting a gluing device towardthe rear of the machine. The gluing device comprises a gluing roller 69disposed transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the machineand having opposite end portions journalled in bearings TI'II secured tothe frame structure 20. Disposed in parallel rearward adjacent relationto gluing roller 69 is a presser roller I2, which is spring pressedagainst roller 59. Opposed end portions of rollers 69 and I2respectively mount meshing spur gears 13 and "I4, spur gear I3 alsobeing disposed to mesh with a spur gear 16 secured to a chain sprocket Hfor rotation therewith on a fixed stub shaft 18.

The roller devices 2I to 26 and the gluing de- ,tudinal axis of themachine.

, tatable about vertical axes.

vice comprising gluing roller 99 and presser roller 12 are driven insuitably timed relation respectively by endless chains I6 and BI. Theendless chain I9 is trained over chain sprocket 6'! and a chain sprocket82, the latter being mounted on a main drive shaft 83, and the endlesschain 8! is trained over chain sprocket I1 and a chain sprocket 84, thelatter also being mounted on main drive shaft 83, which is driven by amotor through an endless belt drive 61.

On the intermediate level of frame structure 20 and at the rear of themachine is a binding tape reel 88 suitably mounted for rotation about anaxis disposed transversely relative to the longi- Just above theintermediate level of frame structure 26 and between reel 88 and presserroller I2 is mounted an idler roller 89 disposed transversely relativeto the longitudinal axis of the machine. Another idler roller BI issimilarly mounted at the front of the machine about midway betweenthe'upper and intermediate levels of frame structure 21!. And stillanother such roller 92 is similarly mounted on the upper level of framestructure 29 between roller'devices 22 and 23. Just above theintermediate level of frame structure 26 and between reel 88 and idlerroller 89 is a crossbar 93 disposed transversely relative to thelongitudinal axis of the machine. Another crossbar 94 is similarlymounted in the proximity of presser roller '52 in rearward spacedrelation thereto. Other crossbars 96 and 9'! are disposed in theproximity of gluing roller 69, the former being positioned in closeadjacent relation thereto and the latter being positioned in forwardspaced relation thereto. And still another crossbar 98 is disposed onthe upper level of frame structure 20 between idler roller 92 and rollerdevice 22.

Carried on the upper level of frame structure 2%) between roller devices24 and 25 is a frame 99 mounting a lower guide-bar I6I extendingparallel to the longitudinal axis of themachine, and also mounting oneachside of the guide bar IIlI a set of grooved fold over rollers I02which are ro- An upper guide bar I03 is supported from a bar I04 carriedby roller devices 24 and 25 and is disposed thereby in spacedsuperimposed parallel relation thereto.

Projecting forwardly from the upper level of the frame structure andoverhanging the front end thereof is a work feed table I96, and betweenroller devices 2| and 22 is a guide plate It! disposed horizontally atabout the same level as work feed table I96 and rollers 21 and 28.Supported from roller device 22 in suitable manner is a guide member I68provided with a horizontally extending leg disposed in superimposedspaced relation to guide roller 28 and having opposite end portionsoverhanging roller 28, the rear end portion thereof being disposed overthe forward end portion of guide plate I91. At the rear end of themachine a rearwardly nd downwardly inclined work receiving table H0 issupported from the frame structure 2|), the forward end portion thereofbeing positioned over reel 86 and the rear end portion being positionedunder roller device 26.

On the upper level of frame structure 25 and between roller devices 25and 26 is a cut off mechanism comprising a frame I09, a knife assemblyIII and control means II2 for the knife. The frame I 69 comprises barsH3 and H4 and a pair of similar posts IIBII5 all secured together toform a rigid open frame disposed transversely relative to thelongitudinal axis of the .machine and in an upright position, bar I I3having opposite end portions thereof rigidly secured to opposed sideportions of frame structure 20 and bar II4 being supported in parallelvertically spaced relation thereto by posts I IS, the latter beingdisposed in parallel horizontally spaced relation to one another. Inaddition, spaced portions of bar I13 between posts II6I I3 have a pairof openings formed therein and a pair of tubular sleeves II1-II1terminally rigidly secured thereto over the openings, as by welding, theaxes of the openings and of tubular sleeves I I I1-I I! being disposedin parallel vertical relation to one another. Rigidly secured to bar II3 in a suitable manner are additional bars I I 8 and I I9 and platesI2! and I22, all being disposed in side abutting relation to one anotherand having flush top surfaces, the plate I22 being curved downwardly asbest shown in Figure 9. Disposed in a rvertical plane parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the machine and positioned immediately in advanceof the frame I03. is a, mounting plate I23 depending from bar I I4, theupper end portion of mounting plate I23 being rigidly secured to anintermediate portion of bar II 4, in a suitable manner and the lower endportion thereof being disposed just above plate I22.

Within the'opening of frame I09 is a crosshead bar I24 having oppositeend portions thereof connected to opposite end portions of bar II4 bymeans of tension springs I2S-I 23, and having a knife I21 securedthereto by bolts I23. Terminally rigidly secured to opposite endportions of crosshead bar I24 and positioned thereby to depend therefromin parallel relation to one another are a pair of plunger rods I29-I 29extending downward through tubular sleeves 'II1--I I1 and the associatedopenings in bar H3.

The control means I I2 for the knife comprises a pair of similarelectro-magnetic solenoid units I3II3I and a pair of electric switchesI32-I33 all included in suitable electric circuit, the electricswitches" I32-I33 being actuated respectively by a pair of leversI34'.I3B. The units -I3I--I3I. are rigidly secured to the underside ofbar I I3 by supporting frames I3'II31 and are disposed thereby tosuitably receive the lower end portions of plunger rods I29-I29. Theelectric switches I32-I33 are mounted in close adjacent relation to oneanother on the right side of an intermediate portion of mounting platI23, and depending therefrom respectively are elongated flexible membersI38--I39 havinglowerend por tions mounting respectively rollersI4I--I42. An

' I41 forming a sharp shoulder. Mounted on the reduced endportion- I41for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis are levers" I34-' I36having respectively arms Hit-I43 extending upwardly from reduced endportion I41, and also having respectively arms I5II52 extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from reduced end portion I41. Lever I49 ispositioned againstithe sharp shoulder-formed by reduced end portion I41and is disposed thereby to extend upwardly along the right side ofmounting plate I23 in spaced relation thereto for engagement with rollerI4I of electric switch I32, and lever I48 is positioned alongside leverI49 and extends upwardly for engagement with roller I42 of electricswitch I33, the upper extremity of arm I48 being offset to this end fromthe remainder of lever I48, and levers I la-439 being secured on reducedend portion I41 by a washer I53 and a cotter pin I54. Disposed to extendvertically over the forward end portion of lever I43 is an adjustingscrew I56 suitably mounted on plate I23 for relative vertical movement,the lower end portion of adjusting screw I 53 being disposed to abuttheaforementioned rear end portion. On the right side of mounting plate I23and disposed in side abutting relation to the lower end portion thereofis a hold down foot I51 having a vertically extending leg portion I58and a foot portion I59 extending rearwardly therefrom alongside arm I52of lever I36. The leg portion I58 is provided with a verticallyextending slot Itl and is secured to plate I23 b studs ISL-I32, and thefoot pgrtion I59 is provided with a curved bottom edge I 3.

A suitable electric circuit for control of the cut off mechinism isshown in Figure 17 wherein switcl'ies I 32-533 are connected in seriesand electric-magnetic solenoid units I3I--I3I connected in parallel.

The binding tape I .54 from reel 83 is passed generally horizontallyfrom the rear to the front of the machine over crossbar 93 and idlerroller 89, under crossbar 94, between gluing roller 69 and respectivelypresser roller 12 and crossbar 93, over crossbar 91v and under idlerroller 9I. From the latter, tape I64 extends upwardly and rearwardly tothe upperlevel of frame structure 28 where it is passed under crossbar93 and over idler roller 92. From roller 92, tape IE4 is passedhorizontally toward the rear of the machine between the rollers ofroller devices 23 and 24, between guide bars NI -I93 and successivepairs of fold over rollers Hi2, and between the rollers of roller device25. From roller device 25 the tape is passed over bars Ii8II9 and platesI2EI22 and under knife I21, arms I5I-I52 are of levers I3ii33,-and footportion I59 of hold down foot I52. And finally, the tape is passedthrough the rollers of the roller device 26.

In the operation of the machine the tape I64 is fed from the reel 88along the path just outlined, and in this connection it will be notedthat the gluing roller I52 has an external surface which is constantlykept moist with glue from a glue pot I33 disposed directly there under,the glue being applied to one side of the tape as the latter passes overthe gluing roller 89. The operator stands at the front of the machineand feeds similar unbound strips of cardboard It'i from work feed tableI33 into roller device 2! from whence they pass between guide plate I91and guide member I33 and between the latter and roller 23 onto the gluedtop surface of tape 434 for movement therewith toward the rear of themachine. Roller device 23 presses the cardboard strips I31 downonthe'glued tape IE4, roller device 23 and fold over rollers I 82 foldthe tape around the strips 26? and roller device 25 presses thefolded'edges of the tape down on the strips I61. e

With regard to the spacing of the strips I61 on the tape I54, the stripsare fed from the work feed table I08 into rollers. 21 and 44 directly 7under collar 53. Since the strips I61 are wider than collar 53, oppositeside portions thereof are engaged by rollers. 21 and 44, which rotate inopposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 8, to feed thestrips I61 therethrough. As a strip I61 moves away from roller device2|, it leaves collar 53 free to rotate with roller 44, and the thendepending spacing element 54 makes roughly three quarters of arevolution before the concave portion of its reversely curved surface 51strikes the upper surface of another strip I61 which, in the meantime,has been started through rollers 21 and 44, and which prevents collar 53from rotating further with roller 44. While the strip I61 is being fedthrough rollers 21 and 4d the spacing element 5-:- rides on the uppersurface thereof, and as the trailing end portion of the strip passesunder the spacing element 54, thus freeing collar 53 for rotation withroller 44, the spacing element 54 swings downwardly so that the convexportion of the reversely curved surface 51 at the base of spacingelement 54 is disposed in abutting relation to the aforementionedtrailing end portion of the strip. Before the spacing element 54 swingsdownwardly as just mentioned, the leading end portion of another stripI31 is placed over the trailing end portion of the one already being fedthrough rollers 21 and 44 and is manually pushed to the position shownin Figure 18. As the trailing end portion of the strip I51 already beingfed through rollers 21 and 44 leaves work feed table I 03 and passesunder the spacing element 54, the position of the parts is as shown inFigure 3. It will readily be understood that in swinging downwardly fromthe position shown in Figure 3, the spacing element 54 acts to space thetrailing end portion of one strip m1 from the leading end portion of thenext strip H51 a distance equal to the thickness of the spacing element54 at its base. The operator need only push the latter strip I61 alonguntil it is gripped by the rollers 21 and 44; the spacing between thestrips I 61 will not depend upon his judgment, but only on the thicknessof the spacing element 54 at its base.

When the bound strips of cardboard reach the cut off mechanism thecondition of the work is as shown in Figures l4, l5 and 16, and it onlyremains to sever the tape between the cardboard strips. As the workapproaches the knife I21 it is held down by foot I51, which isvertically adjustable through slotted opening I6! engaged by studsI62-I62, the lower edge I63 of foot I51 being disposed to engage theupper surface of the cardboard strips. It will be seen that the lowerextremities of arms I5Il52 of levers I34-i36, respectively, are disposedslightly in advance of knife I21, and that the lower extrem ity of armsI5l is disposed about midway between the lower extremity of arm I52 andknife I21. It will also be seen that the arms I48I49 of levers I34--I35are respectively pressed rearwardly through the action of flexiblemembers I32-433, and that levers I34-I33 may be adjusted bodilyvertically by manipulating adjusting screw I53.

In the position of the parts shown in Figure 10, hold down foot I51 isengaged with the trailing end portion of one strip of cardboard and theleading end portion of another. Arms I5I--I52 are both engaged with theupper surface of the aforementioned trailing end portion and arms I48I49are disposed to incline forwardly. When these arms are thus inclined,

8 electric switch I32 is open and electric switch I33 is closed.Consequently, as a glance at Figure 17 shows, the electro-magneticsolenoid units I 3I-I3I are de-energized, knife I21 being disposed inraised position.

As the work moves from the position of Figure 10 to that of Figure 11,arm I52 drops from the upper surface of the aforementioned trailing endportion to the upper surface of the tape, and the arm I49 assumes avertical position, which opens electric switch I33. Since electricswitches I32--I33 are both open, the electromagnetic solenoid units arede-energized and knife I21 is still raised.

As the work moves from the position of Figure 11 to that of Figure 12,the arm I5I drops from the upper surface of the aforementioned trailingend portion to the upper surface of the tape, and the arm I48 assumes avertical position, which closes electric switch I32. Since electricswitch I32 is now closed and electric switch I33 is open theelectro-magnetic solenoid units I3I--I3I are de-energized and knife I21is still raised.

As the work moves from the position of Figure 12 to that of Figure 13,the arm I52 is raised to engage the upper surface of the aforementionedleading end portion, and the arm I49 is again disposed to inclineforwardly, closing electric switch I33; Since electric switches I32-I33are now both closed, the electro-magnetic units I3II3I are energized andact to draw the plunger rods I29 downward against the force of springsI2'6I26. Of course, the plunger rods carry the crosshead bar I24 and theknife I21 downward, and the latter acts to sever the tape between thecardboard strips, the completed work being moved along by rollers 3243and delivered to work receiving table I I B.

As the work moves along from the position of Figure 13 to that of Figure10, the arm I5! is raised to engage the upper surface of theaforementioned leading end portion, and the arm I48 again assumes aforwardly inclined position, opening electric'switch I32. Since electricswitch I32 is now open and electric switch I33 is closed, theelectro-magnetic solenoid units I3I-I3'I are de-energized and the knifeI21 is raised again by the action of springs I 26-4 26.

It will be noted that the electro-magnetic solenoid units I3I--I3I areenergized during the period of time that arm I52 islifted by the leadingend of the strip I61, while arm I5I remains lowered in engagement withthe relatively thin tape portion extending between adjoining cardboardstrips, this being one of the important factors to be considered intiming the machine for proper operation. Other such factors are the timeit takes for the knife to move from its raised to its cutting position,the rate of feed through the machine, and the spacing between thecardboard strips. All the factors controlling the timing may becorrelated so that the knife will be lowered to cut the tape between thecardboard strips at a predetermined distance from the leading endportion of the cardboard strip approaching knife I21.

It should be apparent now that a machine for edging card-board stripshas been provided with automatic means independent of the operator:judgment for relatively spacing strips of cardboard along a continuousbinding tape as the cardboard strips are fed into the machine forbinding. And it should be apparent that such a machine has been providedwith means for severing the tape between the strips of cardboard, andthat the means provided is operative independently of the length of thestripsfed through the machine, and is also operative board strips,certain features are of more general application and, therefore, it isnot intended to limit the invention to the exact construction andcombination herein shown and described for purposes of illustration asvarious modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occurto persons skilled in the art.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

' 1. In a machine for edging cardboard strips with a binding tape, saidmachine comprising a supporting frame structure, means on said framestructure for feedin a continuous strip of said binding tape along apredetermined path in one direction at a predetermined rate, and meanson said frame for successively feeding said cardboard strips into thepath of said tape at said predetermined rate and positioning saidcardboard strips along said tape in predetermined spaced relation to oneanother for movement therewith in the same direction, said lastmentioned means comprising a pair of roller elements carried by saidframe structure and mounted for rotation about parallel axes in oppositedirections for engaging the oppositely facing surfaces of a portion ofsaid cardboard strips to feed said cardboard strips therethrough, and aseparator element extending generally radially from the axis of one ofsaid roller elements and beyond the periphery thereof, said separatorelement being positionable between the opposed end portions ofsuccessive leading and trailing cardboard strips, and said separatorelement being mounted for rotation with the associated one of saidroller elements through frictional contact therewith, being thus rotatedfrom said position between the opposed end portions of said leadingcardboard strip when released from said re-' straint for separating thelatter from the next succeeding cardboard strip, and means for cuttingsaid tape between said cardboard strips.

with a binding tape, said machine comprising a supporting framestructure, means on said frame structure for feeding acontinuous stripof said binding tape along a predetermined path in one direction at apredetermined rate, and means on said frame for successively feedingsaid cardboard strips into the path of said tape at said predeterminedrate and positioning said cardboard strips along said tape inpredetermined spaced relation to one another for movement therewith inthe same direction, said last mentioned means comprising a .pair ofelongated rollers mounted on said frame structure for rotation aboutparallel axes in opposite directions,

said rollers having opposedreduced portions intermediate the endsthereof, the opposed shoulders of said'rollers formed by said reducedportionsbeing disposed to engage opposed side porin the construction ofmachines for edging card- 2. In a machine for edging cardboard stripstionsof said cardboard strips to feed said cardboard strips through saidrollers, a collar relatively rotatably mounted on the reduced portion ofone of said rollers, and a separator element carried by said collar andextending generally radially therefrom beyond the periphery of theassociated roller, said separator element being positionable between theopposed end portions of successive leading and trailing cardboardstrips, said collar being mounted for rotation with said associatedroller through frictional contact therewith, and said separator elementbeing thus rotated from said position between the opposed end portionsof said leading and trailing cardboard strips to a position wherein saidseparator element rests upon an intermediate portion of said trailingcardboard strip whereby said separator element is restrained fromfurtherrotation with said associated roller and held in readiness to' followsaid trailing cardboard strip when released from said restraint forseparating the latter from i the next succeeding cardboard strip, andmeans for cutting said tape between said cardboard strips.

3. In a machine for edging cardboard strips' therewith in the samedirection, said last men-' tioned means comprising a pair of elongatedrollers mounted one above the other on said frame structure for rotationabout horizontal parallel axes in opposite directions, said rollershaving opposed reduced portions intermediate the ends thereof, theopposed shoulders of said rollers formed by said reduced portions beingdisposed to engage opposed side portions of said cardboard strips tofeed said cardboard strips through said rollers, a collar relativelyrotatably' mounted on said reduced portion of the upper roller, theoppositely facing side surfaces thereof being disposed in frictionalcontact with the' shoulders formed by said reduced portion of the upperroller, and a separator element carried by said collar and extendinggenerally radially therefrom, said separator element having a pair ofoppositely facing side surfaces disposed in inwaroly spaced relation tothe shoulders formed by said reduced portion of the lower roller, and

having a second pair of oppositely facing surfaces converging outwardlyto an end portion' disposed to clear said reduced portion of the lowerroller, said separator element being positionable between the opposedend portions of successive leading and trailing cardboard strips,

said collar being mounted for rotation with said upper roller throughsaid frictional contact therewith, and said separator element being thusrotated from said position between the opposed end portions of saidleading and trailing cardboard strips to a position wherein saidseparator element engages the upper surface of said trailnext succeedingcardboard strip, and means for cutting said tape between said cardboardstrips.

4. In a machine for edging cardboard strips with a binding tape, saidmachine comprising a supporting frame structure, means on said framestructure for feeding a continuous strip of said binding tape along apredetermined path in one direction at a predetermined rate, meanson-said frame for successively feeding said cardboard strips into thepath of said tape at said predetermined rate and positioning saidcardboard strips along said tape in predetermined spaced relation to oneanother for movement therewith in the same direction, and means forcutting said tape comprising a knife mounted on said frame structure andmovable for cutting said tape, a pair of arms disposed to engage spacedportions along said tape and cardboard strips, each arm being movableindependently of the other between one position wherein it directlyengages a cardboard strip and another position wherein it directlyengages the tape between two successive cardboard strips, said armssuccessively assuming a plurality of different rel ative positions assaid tape and cardboard strips pass thereby in contact therewith, andsaid knife being actuated in response to one of said different relativepositions of the arms for cutting said tape between said cardboardstrips.

5, In a machine for edging cardboard strips with a binding tape, saidmachine comprising a supporting frame structure, means on said framestructure for feeding a continuous strip of said binding tape along apredetermined path in one direction at a predetermined rate, means onsaid frame for successively feeding said cardboard strips into the pathof said tape at said predetermined rate and positioning said cardboardstrips along said tape in predetermined spaced relation to one anotherfor movement therewith in the same direction, and means for cutting saidtape comprising a knife mounted on said frame structure and movable forcutting said tape, a pair of arms disposed to engage spaced portionsalong said tape and cardboard strips, each arm being movableindependently of the other between one position wherein it directlyengages a cardboard strip and another position wherein it directlyengages the tape between two successive cardboard strips, said armssuccessively assummg a plurality of different relative positions as saidtape and cardboard strips pass thereby in contact therewith, a pair ofelectric switches each arranged to close and open independently of theother in response to the movement of one of said arms,'both of saidelectric switches being closed when said arms assume one of said differ.ent relative'positions and either or both being open when said arms arein any other one of said different relative positions, andelectro-magnetic solenoid means connected in electric circuit with saidelectric switches, the last mentioned means being energized when both ofsaid electric switches are closed, and said knife being actuated therebyfor cutting said tape between said cardboard strips.

6. In a machine for edging cardboard "strips with a binding tape, saidmachine comprising a supporting frame structure, means on said framestructure for feeding a continuous strip of said binding tape along apredetermined path in one direction at a predetermined rate, means onsaid frame for successively feeding said cardboard strips into the pathof said tape at said predetermined rate and positioning said cardboardstrips along said tape in predetermined spacedlevers about a horizontalaxis, said levers being disposed thereby above said tape and in longi-'tudinally spaced relation to said knife, and each of said leverscomprising an upright'arm and an angularly related lower arm extendingdown- Ward and toward said knife from said intermediate portion, theterminal portions of said lower arms being relatively longitudinallyspaced and disposed to engage spaced portions along said tapeand'cardbord strips, each of said levers being movable independently ofthe other between one position wherein said terminal portion of theassociated lower arm directly engages a cardboard strip and anotherposition wherein said terminal portion directly engages the tape betweentwo successive cardboard strips, said levers successively assuming aplurality of different relative positions as said tape and cardboardstrips pass thereunder in contact therewith, a pair of electric switcheseach arranged to close and open independently of the other in responseto the movement of one of said upright arms of the levers, both of saidelectric switches being closed when said levers assume one of saiddifferent relative positions and either or both being open when saidlevers are in any other one of said different relative positions, andelectro-magnetic solenoid means connected in electric circuit with saidelectric switches, the last mentioned means being energized when both ofsaid electric switches are closed, and said knife being actuated therebyfor cutting said tape between said cardboard strips.

'7. A device for cutting a continuous tape between cardboard stripscarried thereby in spaced relation to one another, a supporting framestructure, a knife mounted on said frame structure and movable forcutting said tape, a pair of arms disposed to engage spaced portionsalong said tape and cardboard strips, each arm being movableindependently of the other between one position wherein it directlyengages a cardboard strip and another position wherein it directlyengages the tape'between two successive cardboard strips, said armssuccessively-assuming a plurality of different relative positions assaid tape and cardboard strips pass thereby in contact therewith, a pairof electric switches each arranged to close and open independently ofthe other in response to the movement of one of said arms, both of saidelectric switches being closed when said arms assume one of saiddifferent relative positions and either or both being open when saidarms are in any other one of said different relative positions, andelectro-magnetic solenoid means connected in electric circuit with saidelectric switches, the last mentioned means being energized when both ofsaid electric switches-are closed, and said knife being actuated therebyfor cutting said tape between said cardboard strips.

8. A device for-cutting a continuous tape between cardboard stripscarried thereby in spaced relation to one another, a supporting framestructure, .a knife yieldably suspended from said frame structure anddisposed thereby over said tape, a pair :of elongated levers havinginter- 13 mediate portions pivotally connected to said frame structurefor swinging movement of said levers about a horizontal axis, saidlevers being disposed thereby above said tape and in longitudinallyspaced relation to said knife, and each of said levers comprising anupright arm and an angularly related lower arm extending downward andtoward said knife from said intermediate portion, the terminal portionsof said lower arms being relatively longitudinally spaced and disposedto engage spaced portions along said tape and cardboard strips, each ofsaid levers being movable independently of the other between oneposition wherein said terminal portion of the associated lower armdirectly engages a cardboard strip and another position wherein saidterminal portion directly engages the tape' between two successivecardboard strips, said levers successively assuming a plurality ofdifferent relative positions as said tape and cardboard strips passthereunder in contact therewith, a pair of electric switches eacharranged to close and open independently of the other in response to themovement of one of said upright arms of the levers, both of saidelectric switches being closed when said levers assume one of saiddifferent relative positions and either or both being open when saidlevers are in any other one of said different relative positions, andelectro-magnetic solenoid means connected in elecdifferent relativepositions as said tape and cardboard strips pass thereby in contacttherewith, a pair of electric switches each arranged to close and openindependently of the other in response to the movement of one of saidarms, both of said electric switches being closed when said arms assumeone of said different relative positions and either or both being openwhen said arms in any other one of said difierent relative positions,and electro-magnetic solenoid means connected in electric circuit withsaid electric switches, the last mentioned means being energized whenboth of said electric switches are closed, and said knife being actuatedthereby for cutting said tape between said cardboard strips.

10. A device for cutting a continuous tape between cardboard strip-scarried thereby in spaced relation to one another, a knife movable triccircuit with said electric switches, the last mentioned means beingenergized when both of said electric switches are closed, and said knifebeing actuated thereby for cutting said tape between said cardboardstrips.

9. In a machine for edging cardboard strips with a binding tape, saidmachine comprising means for feeding a continuous strip of said bindingtape along a predetermined path in one direction at a predeterminedrate, means for successively feeding said cardboard strips into the pathof said tape at said predetermined rate and positioning said cardboardstrips along said tape in predetermined spaced relation to one anotherfor movement therewith in the same direction, and means for cutting saidtape comprising a knife, a pair of arms disposed to engage spacedportions along said tape and cardboard strips, each arm being movableindependently of the other between one position wherein it directlyengages a cardboard strip and another position wherein it directlyengages the tape between two successive cardboard strips, said armssuccessively assuming a plurality of for cutting said tape, a pair ofarms disposed to engage spaced portions along said tape and cardboardstrips, each arm being movable independently of the other between oneposition wherein it directly engages a cardboard strip and anotherposition wherein it directly engages the tape between two successivecardboard strips, said arms successively assuming a plurality ofdiiferent relative positions as said tape and cardboard strips passthereby in contact therewith, a pair of electric switches each arrangedto close and open independently of the other in response to the movementof one of said arms, both of said electric switches being closed whensaid arms assume one of said different relative positions and either orboth being open when said arms are in any other one of said differentrelative positions, and electromagnetic solenoid means connected inelectric circuit with said electric switches, the last mentioned meansbeing energized when both of said electric switches are closed, and saidknife being actuated thereby for cutting said tape between saidcardboard strips.

HARRY KELLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,220,623 Gardner Mar. 27, 1917 1,293,348 Kane et a1 Mar. 25,1919 1,958,132 Davis May 8, 1934 1,958,138 Fowler et a1 May 8, 19342,166,038 Chambon July 11, 1939 2,254,394 Ratley Sept. 2, 1941

